Europol Busts Major Online CSAM Racket in Western Balkans

Authorities have seized electronic devices and malicious images while identifying 39 suspects, arresting 3 individuals, and rescuing two child victims.

In recent years, Europol has supported law enforcement agencies around the world to identify and arrest hundreds of suspects and to rescue thousands of child victims. To further intensify its efforts to combat online child sexual abuse, Operation MOZAIK 2023 was launched to identify and arrest people utilizing online forums and messaging apps to share child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online.

Europol’s press release states that law enforcement authorities in the Western Balkan region have identified 39 suspects from eight countries. The suspects were involved in a major child sexual abuse racket operating in the Western Balkan region.  

Europol supervised this operation, whereas the Slovenian National Police led it. It involved cooperation from agencies in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia (Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary ...